Chapter 51: Ingredient Supplier (Second Update!)

A cozy bedroom, with a small bedside lamp lit.

The dim, warm light fell upon Meng Anhe's flushed cheeks. Her finger traced circles on Lin Zhiqiang's chest as she breathed slightly heavily, saying, "Have you been secretly working out behind my back these past few days?"

"Working out?" Lin Zhiqiang flicked the cigarette held between his fingertips and raised his chin with a hint of pride. "Is that necessary? It was just a natural performance."

"As if I don't know your limits." Meng Anhe rolled her eyes at him, and her circling finger instinctively gave him a pinch.

Once a man passes twenty-five, the only thing left that stays tough is his mouth.

And for a thirty-eight-year-old man, it was even more so.

"Hiss—" Lin Zhiqiang inhaled sharply and quickly pleaded for mercy. "Maybe it's because I've been eating a lot of beef lately; my body has just gotten stronger."

"Qiaojiao Beef?" Meng Anhe mused.

"The bone broth is simmered for eight hours, plus all sorts of Chinese herbs and beef. It's definitely nourishing."

"Then go eat it every day from now on. I'll reimburse your expenses."

"Alright. But of course, it's mainly because my body is already good. Whether it's supplemented or not doesn't make much of a difference."

"Is that so? Then let me test you further." Meng Anhe sat up and took a hair tie to pull her hair back.

"Oh! I suddenly remembered I have an unfinished design drawing. I have to present it at tomorrow's meeting. I'll go take care of it first. Anhe, you go to sleep first, okay?" Lin Zhiqiang flipped over, threw on his pajamas, and prepared to head out, his legs feeling a bit weak.

What kind of official could withstand such a test?

"Heh, men." Meng Anhe's lips curled into a smile as she reached out to hook his collar. "Come back and lie down. I'll stop teasing you."

"That's more like it. We need to pace ourselves; we can't drink too much at once." Only then did Lin Zhiqiang lie back down on the bed.

Resting her head on his hand, Meng Anhe said with a smile, "Regarding today's meal, I saw the Factory Director and Sister Meilin seemed quite satisfied."

"I've eaten with the Director many times, including at several large restaurants in Chengdu, but this is the first time I've seen him react like that." Lin Zhiqiang also said with a smile, "He had low expectations at first, but then he was stunned. His attitude toward Zhou Yan has clearly changed."

Meng Anhe nodded slightly. "To be fair, the dishes Zhou Yan made today were indeed on par with famous restaurants in Chengdu. With his culinary skills, opening a restaurant in this small town is truly a waste of talent. He should go develop in a big city."

"You can't put it that way. I actually think he's taking his steps quite steadily," Lin Zhiqiang mused. "From being expelled from the factory canteen to opening a restaurant at the factory gate—for a small-town youth who hasn't had much formal education and comes from an ordinary family, being able to start a shop, make it profitable, and establish a foothold in such a short time is the best choice he could have made."

"Once he accumulates his first pot of gold, he might move to a big city. In the future, he might even open a large restaurant in Chengdu."

"You're quite optimistic about him," Meng Anhe laughed.

"Most people who have stayed in state-owned enterprises for a long time look down on individual entrepreneurs. But we've seen more while studying abroad; running a business is a legitimate profession. Those with ability can earn much more than working in a factory. With money, life is naturally easier. Being university-educated doesn't necessarily mean one will be more successful..."

"Are you trying to play matchmaker for Xia Yao and Zhou Yan?" Meng Anhe interrupted him, hitting the nail on the head.

"I don't have that kind of power, but I certainly won't stop it." Lin Zhiqiang spread his hands. "If those two kids ever truly end up together, Zhou Yan might not be a bad match at all."

"Then you go tell my sister and brother-in-law."

"Huh? How would I dare!"

...

Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Dormitory.

A small desk lamp glowed on the desk.

Xia Yao sat by the desk writing a letter, her elegant handwriting flowing across the paper. Several crumpled paper balls sat in the trash can beside her.

"Yaoyao, is writing a love letter really that hard?" Deng Hong poked her head out and asked with a grin.

Zhu Yuyu poked her head out from the other bed, teasing, "Exactly. This is already the fifth version. You're more serious about this than I am about my graduation project. Can you teach me a thing or two?"

"I'm writing a letter, not a love letter," Xia Yao said, sitting upright without looking back, though her hand instinctively covered the words on the paper.

"Right, right, right. A letter filled with 'revolutionary friendship'." Deng Hong nodded with a smile. "Then thank Comrade Zhou Yan on our behalf for the peanut candy. It was delicious."

"So true. Remember to say 'me too'," Zhu Yuyu added, nodding along.

"Okay, you guys go to sleep first. I'll turn off the light in a bit," Xia Yao said with a smile.

...

Just as dawn was breaking, Comrade Zhou was out on his bicycle again to buy groceries.

Today, he first went to find Old Third Zhang to buy eight catties of ribs.

"Little Zhou, your restaurant business is getting better and better," Old Third Zhang remarked while weighing the ribs.

"It's alright. It's sustainable," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, pulling out the money and handing it to Old Third Zhang.

"Don't you want the flank meat or the pork hock?" Old Third Zhang asked casually as he took the money.

"Not yet. Once I start selling Twice-Cooked Pork and Dongpo Pork Hock, I'll come to you for those." Zhou Yan placed the ribs carefully in his bicycle basket and called out, "I'm off!"

"This kid actually has some skill," Old Third Zhang muttered to himself with a chuckle, watching Zhou Yan's retreating figure.

Zhou Yan then went to the market to find Boss Gao, the fishmonger who delivered fish to him, asking him to deliver forty crucian carp weighing about 0.4kg each to the shop this noon.

Because he bought in bulk and required daily deliveries, Zhou Yan had successfully pressured the price of crucian carp down from 0.45 yuan to 0.40 yuan per jin, and even prevented price hikes during holidays.

The textile factory canteen and state-owned restaurants had their own procurement channels, so retail wasn't that easy to sell. Stable customers like Zhou Yan were rare; in Suji, he was considered a major client. Following the principle of "small profits, high turnover," Boss Gao had agreed readily.

"Boss Gao, my fish must be good. You've been selling fish for so many years; you know the difference between good and bad. If you intentionally send me poor quality, I'll lose my temper," Zhou Yan said with a smile, stating his terms upfront.

"Don't worry. Every time I deliver, I'll bring ten extra fish for you to pick through yourself. If you're not satisfied, I'll redeliver," Boss Gao promised. Despite Zhou Yan's youth, his eye for fish was indeed sharp; he couldn't be fooled.

"Deal," Zhou Yan nodded and rode away.

The operation of a restaurant is inseparable from these ingredient suppliers.

Establishing a stable supply chain is a crucial part of ensuring consistent food quality.

Currently, the restaurant's most important supply—beef—was controlled by his own family.

At the Zhou Village Kan-tou Slaughterhouse, eight cows were being slaughtered simultaneously today. The morning temperature was low, and wisps of steam rose from the workstations like the ascending souls of the cattle.

The thought that suddenly popped into his head made Zhou Yan laugh at himself.

At this hour, the butchers were already butchering the meat.

The beef, separated from the bone, was divided into different cuts. The meat was still warm and the color was bright.

Zhou Yan parked his bike in front of Zhou Miao's stall.

"Twelve catties of beef brisket, and twelve catties of tenderloin as well. If you need more, go get it from your uncle. I've already settled it with him—two yuan per jin, and that's the price from now on," Zhou Miao said.

"Isn't two yuan per jin a bit too cheap?" Zhou Yan asked hesitantly.

"No. Even the village chefs who handle banquet catering buy in bulk at this price. It's naturally cheaper than buying in small amounts," Zhou Miao shook his head.

"Alright," Zhou Yan nodded.

Seeing Zhou Yan approach, Zhou Fei asked with a smile, "Zhou Yan, how much more tenderloin do you need?"

"Brother Fei, five catties will be enough for today," Zhou Yan said, also greeting the elderly man nearby, Zhou Qing.

The old man was robust and broad-shouldered, looking very much like Zhou Fei. With slightly frosted temples, he gave Zhou Yan a hearty smile. "Zhou Yan, you can have as much as you want. I'll set aside the tenderloin for you from now on."

"Alright, thank you, Uncle," Zhou Yan grinned.

This was the importance of a supply chain. If it weren't for his own family, buying tenderloin would depend on luck, and during holidays, it might not even be available.

Tenderloin was never hard to sell.

Zhou Fei cut a piece of tenderloin, weighed it high, shaved the fascia clean, and ensured the meat quality was good before packing it into Zhou Yan's basket.

"Uncle, is two yuan per jin taking advantage of you?" Zhou Yan pulled out a ten-yuan note and asked with a smile.

"Why would family take advantage of each other? I said one-fifty per jin, but your old man wouldn't do it and insisted I take two. I actually feel like I'm taking advantage of you kids," the old man said, taking the money and shaking his head with a laugh.

"Zhou Yan, do you want more tenderloin? I've saved some for you here too!" Second Uncle Zhou Ze shouted at him.

Zhou Jie walked up, showing off a piece of tenderloin in his hand. "Today's tenderloin is top-notch."

"I've got some here too, all perfectly prepared," Third Uncle Zhou Han also laughed.

"That's enough for today. If I need more in a couple of days, I'll come find Second and Third Uncle," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, feeling a warmth in his heart.

With just one sentence, his entire extended family took it to heart.

It was truly wonderful.